SPEEDWAY, Ind. – – A previous defensive deal with in the Big Ten now has a various target. He's dealing with pit crew tasks as a fueler in the NTT IndyCar Series.
Quinton
Washington has constantly wanted speed.
" It's in you, it's something that's in you," he said. His experience in racing started with his friends while they were maturing in a village in South Carolina. Together, they worked and developed on cars, and checked them out through drag racing.
2 motorists to get unique practice session
Racing wasn't the sport he had in mind to turn into a profession. He was a football star, ending his high school career as the Mr. Football runner-up in South Carolina his senior year.
From there, he took his skills to the University of Michigan, where he was coached by Ball State alumnus, Brady Hoke. He states Hoke taught him a lot about taking ownership and stepping up to the plate.
" Working with Brady Hoke was incredible. He was like a father to the group.
The Wolverines made it to three bowl video games when
Washington was on the team, winning the Sugar Bowl versus Virginia Tech at the end of the 2011 season. He was likewise part of the team's historical 900th win, beating in-state competing Michigan State. After he graduated, his days of playing football ended at NFL training camp.
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" I understood NASCAR was looking for ex-football players, NFL players, so we drove that direction."
Looking for a group environment like the one he had with the Wolverines,
Washington discovered it with Team Penske. When thinking of the team dynamic, "You constantly have someone to count on, constantly," he stated. "The team environment, you have someone you know is going to be accountable to do the job, so that everybody achieves success in winning."
Winning came frequently for him when he worked his method up to join the pit crew for Will Power after Penske expanded its IndyCar team from 3 to four cars and trucks. He experienced thirteen success with Power during his time at Penske, but one stands apart more than the others.
" I've had a great deal of wins, went to a lot of championship game, and winning the Indy 500 is next level ... It's a high you can only experience after you've won it."
It's something he is definitely specific will occur again now that he's on Alexander Rossi's team, the 2016
Indianapolis 500 champion.
" We're gon na win,"
Washington firmly insisted. "It's not 'think.' We're going to win."
He's currently thrilled at the thought of giving the bricks another kiss.
" It's an incredible sensation to be able to kiss those bricks after a win. It's a remarkable sensation," he emphasized. "I'm kissing the ground after a win, yes, I will do it each and every single time."
With his own experience winning the 500, in addition to two Indy 500 champs with him at Arrow McLaren for the 107th running of the race,
Washington says it assists construct confidence for the team.
" It's a soothing feeling to know you have that experience."
Gaining experience influenced
Washington to move to Arrow McLaren 3 years earlier.
He now drives the truck, establishes the pit box, makes sure whatever is ready for the mechanics, fuels Rossi's vehicle during the race, and tears the pit box down at the end of the day.
The team practices for race days every day, going through drills, and 90-minute workouts. He thinks about the physical demands similar to playing football.
" When you have a seven-second rest stop, a football play is generally ten seconds, so we're in fact going a little faster than one football play, so it's the high strength, and we train that method to be able to take the pressure."
For those who may believe that racing is not a sport, and motorists and team members aren't athletes,
Washington has some suggestions: "Try it," he stated. Coming into racing, I never knew what a driver goes through. Just like a quarterback has to be a different individual to be able to take a hit from a 300-pound person, you have to be a various person to be able to take gs in a corner at the Indy 500."
When it comes to what's essential to him about being on the team,
Washington utilizes a football example to discuss it. They are like offensive linemen to a quarterback. They keep an eye out for each other.
" At the end of the day, we're trying to win, but we're attempting to work on each other also ... We educate, and we grow together."
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